Transcript

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>> Syria's government delegation in one hotel, the opposition team checking into another. After a ten month deep freeze in negotiations and a failing cease fire, Syria's warring parties arriving in Geneva ahead of fresh UN peace talks on Thursday.

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's a repeated attempt to find a political solution to the destructive six year war that's left hundreds of thousands dead, and created the world's worst refugee crisis.

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But UN mediator Staffan de Mistura said on Wednesday that he doesn't expect any breakthroughs. Expectations are low, and old familiar disagreements are likely to resurface.>> We are not having second point or the bottom lines expecting any excessive expectations.>> While the opposition wants prisoners released, the lifting of government sieges, and ultimately an end to President Bashar al-Assad's rule, Assad's government will likely stick with its view that the opposition are terrorists.

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But much has changed since the last UN talks broke up without progress last year.

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w leadership in Washington and the UN has changed the political context. And with backing from Iran and Russia, Assad's military position is far stronger, meaning his government could take advantage on the ground if it doesn't get its way at the negotiating table.